This week’s puzzle from Mr Lemon was at the easier end of the
Listener range. Extra letters in the wordplay of the Across clues spelt
out A BIRD GUIDE EUROPEAN, revealing an avian theme. The clashing
letters from the Down answers, taken in order of the intersecting
Across entries, spelt out RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL. Similarly, the clashing
letters from the Across answers, taken in order of the intersecting
Down entries, spelt out THRUSH ROBIN SPARROW. We were asked to leave
the unusual in the grid, while allowing the commonplace to slip away.
Therefore, the letters of RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL, an uncommon visitor to
Europe, had to appear in the final grid. Gregson wondered if the puzzle
might have been inspired by a sighting near Mr Lemon’s home. The
perfectly Ximenean grid had 36 lights, using all clue numbers from 1 to
36, a construction which some might regard as “unusual”.